The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-08
OUTSPOKEN SENTIhENTS
FOR AND AGAINST TIE PRO.
POSED SUB ,CRIPTION TO
The Midland Railroad Opinions OF q
Few OF Our Leading BusI-
ness Men.

the Midland railroad, is now Lad
ing question among the taxpayers O
the city. Toe election for that pur
pose is arranged fer the 2lst list and
agitation is timely and appropriate
With the end in view OF catching the
drift of public sentiment an APPEAL
reporter yesterday afternoon over
hauled the following gent emen. Only
one question was asked, viz: care
you in favor OF granting the subscrip.
ton asked from the county by the
Midland railroad?" The answers were
as follows:.
DR.. d. L. Porter--I am opposed to IL
right through, and will demonstrate
that opposition later on.
Louis Hsnauer-I am opposed to il
We have subscribed to a number OF
other roads, and what did we get? II
the road is paying one there are lots
OF capitalists here to build it with
their own money. l am tired of .he
county and city being called on 10 aid
in constructing railroads or water
works. l am not opposed TO the road,
but ia county subscription.
/ N. Snowden-In favor of it;
think it Won d be of incalculable bene.
fit to Memphis, in the way OF promot.
ing and increasing business. For In
stance, it would bring to this city
$1,000 or $4,000 bales of co ton that
now go to New Orleans. Toe Mobile
and Ohio, aud Illinois Central roads
do nothing for Memphis We do tome
business out in that SEE ton, but have
to send after IT,. My wife is slso iu
fsvor OF 1t, for she wants to go 10 Jack.
son every month. We ought to have
some guarantee, however, that the
road will be built, at least 10 the
county line.
/. A. Fiedman-I am heartily in
favor Of it, for the reason that we
ought to encourage railroads on gem
eral principles.
]. 3. Dunscomb-I oppose il. The
time has passed for assisting in build
ing railroads eastward. The direction
Tor railroad development is to the
southwari. l would like to have the
railroad, but let private capitalists
build it. This they will do, il the
prospects for financial returns are
favorable.
r. j. Morgan--I am heartily in favor
OF 1t. One advantage Of a road through
to East Tennessee would be that it
would do more to harmonize the two
sections than anything else. Another
advantage is the benz e. to commerce.
/ favor the road on general principles
am q snosg believer in railroads. l
wonld say more but am in hurry.
Prof. Geo. HSndwerker-Opp opposed
to it. We need water works more
than railroads.
II. A. Montgomery am in favor
OF 1t b cause Of its many advantages to
Memphis. The trouble is we don't
appropriate half enough. Make it a
million. i am willing to trust the
Midland people to appropriate it
squarey and legitimately.
j. +. Frank-I am Rot in favor OF it,
VS. have done enough for railroads
and got nothing for It. Look at the
Helena road, and the Chesapeake
road. Didn't we subscribe hundreds
of thousands OF dollars for those roads,
and where is our return2 am afraid
the subscription will pass into the
hands of those who will not appropri-
ate it properly. 1t is all talk about
the guarantee.
]. j. Thornton-That depends upon
circumstances. II they can fix it so
that the bonds will not have to be
paid uutil the road is built, as l un-
derstand they propose to do, am in
favor OF it. l am a strong believer in
railroads.
d. W. Fly-I am in favor of any
thing that will bring business to Mem
phis. Increase of trade is what, l |
want.
Louis Efb-On the terms they pro-
pose to build it, yes. twenty-five
years ego the came conditions might |
have baen risky, but now they are
safe. Building roads now is safe, on
account Of the SIZE of the town.
Kirk Allen-I am in favor OF the
railroad, but let the capitalists build it |
themselves. Look at the Kansas City |
and Louisville, New Orleans and |
Texas roads. They are the most rap
idly constructed lines that come to
this city, and the builders never asked
a cent. Such property finally gets 10
be private, as against the county, any
how.
D. p. Smith, have paid taxes for
eight or ten years on the Memphis and
Ohio road, and never got anything
for IT,
Jas. Yonge-Am strongly in favor
of il. don't believe in throwing OBJ.
structions in the way of railroads. II
they want to run through a mans
house he ought to let them do it.
Any town that fights snd keeps out
railroads comes to grief sooner or
later. am emphaticslly in favor OF
it. There is always an element in
every place that fights railway pro-
grees. l remember when this river
connection was made l rode home in
a car with two gentlemen one even
ing. One was elderly, the other
young. The old man seemed to be
Ia great trouble, and was saying: 81
own house in the city, and would
like to sell it for almtst ANYTHING.
Toe town will be ruined" Isympa-
tAized with him, aud, although it was
none OF my blu Iiness, told him 70 con-
slider awhile before selling. I don't
know whether or not he took my ad-
vice, but / do know the town is nH
ruined.
A. B. Observation-Disclosures are pro-
iected and built where there is
money, and it is the province Of
capitalists to build them. l don't
think the county should be asked
to help in the matter. Thsss
gentlemen who have planned the Mid.
land road are satisfied the institution
will pay, and the county's failure TO
vote subscription will not cut much
of figure. The days OF c,mmunilies
building roads are over, for capitalists
will do it. We are ali In favor OF the
road, however, and only objso to the
proposition to make the county assist.
z. N. Estes-I am opposed 10 1t, be-
cause ! consider the stock worthless.
The road will bs bonded for all it is
worth, and the couuty's stock would
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